Comb adapted for retaining an insert



P 9, 9 H. SOBEL 3,465,760

COMB ADAPTED FOR RETAINING AN INSERT Filed April 5, 1967 United States Patent 3,465,760 COMB ADAPTED FOR RETAINING AN INSERT Leonard H. Sobel, 452 Beach, 138th St., Rockaway Park, N.Y. 11694 Filed Apr. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 628,122 Int. Cl. A45d 24/04, 24/12, 24/22 US. Cl. 132-147 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Brief summary of the invention The invention is directed to a novel construction of a comb and more particularly to a comb which is capable of retaining and supporting an insert or container for various sorts of substances. Such insert is retained in the comb until ready to be used at which time it is removed from the comb and its contents extracted.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel construction for a comb whereby it is capable of removably retaining an insert. Thereby, it is possible to utilize a commonly carried comb as a storage means for various substances in an insert. Such substances may be widely varied in composition and include hair tonics, lotions, toothpaste, medicinal preparations, hairpins, and the like. The substances may be in gaseous, liquid, solid or paste form.

Generally, it is intended that the insert be used once and disposed of when its contents have been removed. A fresh insert is stored in the comb after the previous insert has been removed.

A feature of the invention is the utilization of a tab or the like on the insert to serve a number of functions, namely, as an engaging means for handling the insert for its insertion and removal from the comb, as a source of identification for the contents of the insert, and as a means for opening the insert to remove its contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction for a comb to enable the storage of an insert, the construction being such as not to interfere with its use as a comb but in fact to enhance the handling and use of the comb.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide for a comb construction of the above type which is compact and does not render the comb unduly bulky.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a comb having a bridge portion with depending teeth, the bridge portion being constructed so as to define a cavity with an external opening through which the insert or container can be inserted into the cavity, stored therein, and removed therefrom when ready to be used.

The insert may be provided with an engaging means extending externally of the bridge portion for insertion and removal of the insert. The engaging means may be in the form of a tab which is received in a slot in the bridge portion or which extends from the opening of the cavity when the insert is in place in the cavity.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a comb according to the invention with a container stored therein;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the comb alone of FIG. 1;

Patented Sept. 9, 1969 FIGURE 3 is a side view of a modified version of the container of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of another modified version of the container of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through a portion of the comb showing the retention therein of a further modified version of the container;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through a comb as taken along lines 66 in FIG. 7 showing a further modification of the comb for use with several containers;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the comb of FIG. 6; and

FIGURE 8 shows in cross-section another modified version of the comb.

Detailed description of the invention In FIG. 1 is shown a comb 1, according to the invention, with a container or insert C stored therein. The comb includes a bridge portion 2 from which depend teeth 3. The bridge portion defines a cavity 4 having opposite open ends 5 and 5'. The container C can be inserted into the cavity through either open end 5 or 5' and stored in said cavity until the time of its removal when it is extracted through one of the open ends 5, 5'.

To facilitate the insertion and removal of the container C, the bridge portion 2 is provided with a slot 6 in which a tab T of the container can extend. The tab T thus serves the function as an engaging means for handling the container. Additionally, the tab T may be provided with suitable indicia to indicate the composition of the contents within the container. The tab T may be connected with the container such that when the container is removed from the cavity and the tab is removed from the container, as for example, by being torn from the container, the latter is opened to enable removal of its contents.

The container may carry various substances in liquid, gaseous, solid or paste form. For example, the container may carry hair tonics, lotions, toothpaste, medicinal preparations, hairpins and the like.

The container may be constituted of a brittle plastic material which can be cracked under pressure in order to provide access to the contents therein. Alternatively, the container may be constituted of soft plastic material which is ruptured under pressure to gain access to its contents. The latter construction is generally preferred for paste and liquid contents, whereas the former construction is preferred for solid contents.

The provision of the slot 6 in the bridge portion of the comb furnishes a degree of flexibility for the bridge portion to enable variation in the size of the cavity 4. Thus, the container C can be made slightly oversize with respect to the cavity and tightly fitted therein by virtue of the expansion capability of the bridge portion by reason of the slot 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the tab T is coextensive in length with the bridge portion and the slot 6 provided therein.

It is also possible to provide an end tab T on the container C as shown in FIG. 3 and to employ this container in the comb shown in FIG. 2. In this arrangement the container C is fitted into the cavity 4 and the tab T extends through one of the openings 5, 5'. Thereby the container can be removed by engagement of the tab T Although it is preferred that the slot 6 be provided in the comb to facilitate the insertion and removal of container C this is not indispensible if the container itself is relatively flexible. This will be the case when the container is constituted of soft plastic material and particularly when it is partially filled with a liquid or paste substance.

Another arrangement is that shown in FIG. 4 where the container C is provided with a tab T which extends only a portion of its length. This container can be utilized with the comb as shown in FIG. 2 wherein the slot extends the entire length of the comb. This has the advantage as indicated above as regards the flexibility of the bridge portion which facilitates the retention of the container. However, in certain circumstances it is not indispensible to have the slot 6 extend the entire length of the container and in such case the slot extends only for the length of the tab T in order to receive the same when the container T is inserted into the cavity of the comb.

In the above embodiments it is evident that both ends 5, of the bridge portion 2 need not be open and that only one open end is required. As shown in FIG. 5, one end of the bridge portion 2' is closed and one end is open. In FIG. 5 there is shown a modified version of the engagement of the container within the cavity of the comb and this is achieved by providing tab or stopper T on a container C wherein the container has a smaller diameter than that of the cavity of the bridge portion, the tab T having a larger diameter and being supported in the bridge portion with frictional contact. Thus, the container is inserted into the cavity freely and without contact and is secured by the frictional contact of tab T with the inner surface of the bridge portion 2'. Removal of the container is effected by engagement of tab T After the container has been entirely removed, the tab T is separated from the remainder of the container to gain access to its contents. The tab T is preferably detachably inserted into container C with a friction fit greater than that between the tab T and the inner surface of the bridge portion 2 to enable removal of the tab T and container C as a unit. Alternatively, the tab T and the container C can be made integral.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a modified arrangement adapted for cooperation with a plurality of containers C The containers themselves are smooth and free of tabs. To facilitate the removal of the containers there is provided a slider which engages the bridge portion 2 at the slot 6. The slider is externally accessible for selective removal of the containers C The operation of this arrangement is as follows:

The slider is positioned approximately in the center of the bridge portion and the containers are inserted into the cavity through the opposite open ends 5, 5' until they are completely received within the bridge portion. In order to remove one or the other of the containers, the slider 10 is moved from its central position towards one of the ends. This causes removal of one of the containers. The slider may then be moved towards the other of the ends to remove the other of the containers. Of course, it is possible to extract only one of the containers and then to replace it with a fresh container. It is also possible to utilize a greater number of containers with a correspondingly greater number of sliders.

Although a circular cavity has been shown in the bridge portion in the embodiments described hereinabove, it is evident that other shapes may also be utilized.

The enlarged bridge portion according to the invention to define a cavity for the storage of a container does not inordinately increase the size of the comb and, in fact, enhances its handleability. The container, itself, when stored in the cavity is protected by the body of the comb and there is no danger of its becoming ruptured when the comb is handled or is stored in a pocket or the like. The position of the slot 6 and the resulting location of the tab has been carefully selected to minimize the presence of the tab and to insure its lack of interference with a hair combing operation when a container is stored in the cavity. In this regard the tab lies immediately adjacent the upper portion of teeth 3 where they are joined together and to the bridge portion 2. Also, the presence of the tab and the slot also insures that the container will be inserted into the cavity in a particular angular orientation which may be of significance depending upon the material stored in the container. It is po sible, of course, with the embodiments of FIGS. 6

and 7 to substantially eliminate any external projection caused by the presence of the containers, since the slider 10 need project only an insignificant distance from the bridge portion of the comb.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a particularly simplified arrangement for a comb and container. Therein, the bridge portion is of semi-circular form, and instead of forming a thin slot as in previous embodiments there is formed a Wide slot 6 at the top of the bridge portion. This arrangement is particularly adaptable for use with containers having substantial strength and therefore not requiring protection by being enclosed in the harder material of the bridge portion. The presence of wide slot 6' in the bridge portion provides the latter with great flexibility and enables a container of slightly larger size to be inserted into the bridge portion by being pushed into cavity 4'. The flexibility of the bridge portion causes the container to be retained therein when the container is in the cavity. A portion of the container projects from slot 6' when the container is seated in cavity 4'. Thereby it becomes possible to remove the container by engaging the projecting portion with a fingernail or the like, and sliding the container axially in the bridge portion. The container itself can be directly provided with indicia thereon which is visible through slot 6' when the container is seated in the cavity 4.

It is also possible to utilize the comb of FIG. 8 With a container of equal or smaller size than the cavity by providing retaining means in the form of a pair of inwardly facing ribs 12 at the free ends of the bridge portion. These ribs 12 serve to apply lateral forces on the container to retain it in the cavity.

Numerous variations and modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a comb comprising a bridge portion having depending teeth, said bridge portion defining a cavity with an external opening, said bridge portion having a slot extending lengthwise thereof and communicating with the cavity, and a container removably positioned in said cavity for being temporarily stored therein, said container including a relatively thin, planar tab extending therefrom, said tab being insertable in said slot and extending externally therefrom to be manually engageable for inserting the container into said cavity and for removing the container from said cavity, said tab and slot being positioned and dimensioned to orient the container within the cavity when the tab is inserted in the slot, said tab being tearable from the container to open the container and enable removal of its contents.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tab extends radially from said container.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slot is adjacent said teeth and said tab lies proximate said teeth and covers a relatively small portion thereof.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slot extends the entire length of the bridge portion.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said container has a length approximately equal to that of the bridge portion, said tab on the container extending substantially the entire length thereof.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slot extends from said open end of the bridge portion a fraction of the length of said bridge portion, said container having a length approximately equal to that of the bridge portion, said tab on the container having a length substantially equal to that of the slot and positioned on the container such that with the latter in said cavity in concurrence for their lengths, the tab is positioned in said slot.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container is constituted of brittle material and is cracked under pressure.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container is constituted of soft plastic material which is ruptured under pressure.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container has a cross-sectional area greater than that of the cavity whereby the container is supported with friction in the said bridge portion.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bridge portion has a semi-circular cross-section with the slot facing in a direction away from said teeth, the container 10 being substantially circular in cross-section and insertable and removable from the bridge portion.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 comprising therein comprising inwardly facing ribs at the free ends of the bridge portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 691,946 1/1902 Kingman 132105 2,383,367 8/1945 Brown. 2,612,175 9/1952 Martino 132147 2,640,487 6/1953 Fitz l32--79.3 2,737,190 3/1956 Magnusson et a1. 132114 3,166,081 1/ 1965 Larson et a1. 132148 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner means on the bridge portion for retaining the container 15 JAMES W. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiner 

